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Friday, October 18, 2013

Canada gets more stinky cheese from the EU

CHEESE PLEASE! There is a new Trade Deal being worked out by the Canadian Government and the European Union. So what's all the fuss about? More products will be able to be imported into Canada without Tariffs. YEAH you say... we get more stinky cheese... but there are a lot of people that aren't happy about this deal. Mainly some of the great Canadian Cheese Producers in this Country. A lot of great cheese is produced in Ontario and Quebec. Monteforte Dairy is one of them, they produce cheese in the Stratford area and sell their cheeses at many local farmer's markets. But they aren't the only ones. There are a lot of great goat cheeses and even Agropur cheese company that produce OCA cheese in Quebec. They feel that the opening up of imported cheese to the Canadian Market will take away sales from the Canadian producers. The government says this deal will create many jobs, but I suppose the Canadian cheese producers feel that it will also take away some of their jobs.

I am conflicted on this deal because I have been to Paris and one of my favourite cheese's that I ate there was Caprice de Deux and it has been sold at some places in Ontario but with Canadian standards it didn't quite taste the same. I would love to see more new cheese selections in Ontario but I understand how hard it already is for Canadian producers to make a living in Canada.

There are always winners and losers in any trade deal but I suppose you have to weigh what's best for the majority of people when making decisions. Here are some of the numbers according to the CBC.WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is it just a lot more stinky cheese?Imports from Europe that would see tariffs eliminated include: automobiles, industrial machinery, wine and spirits, some cheeses, fish and seafood products and many others.

Here's a look at more numbers, from Canadian and EU documents and briefings, related to what both sides have called a "historic" deal: